Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths

Book excerpt: Hardbound. The first chapter focuses on one aspect of one of the most stimulating topics in the whole of lanthanide science: the dual valence state elements Ce, Pr and Tb (valences of 3 and 4) and Sm, Eu, Tm and Yb (valences of 2 and 3). The authors bring us up to date on the status of our knowledge of valence fluctuation and heavy fermion 4f systems as gleaned from neutron scattering experiments. The major topics include cerium-based valence fluctuation systems, cerium-based heavy fermion materials and ytterbium-based materials. The remaining quarter of the chapter deals with samarium-, europium- and thulium-based systems.The next chapter deals with the thermal conductivity of rare earth containing materials and is the first major review on this topic. A great deal of information can be obtained on the electrical and magnetic nature of these solids, because of the varied response of the thermal conductivity to long range magnetic order,